German FM backs proposal to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles from the West
Photo: EPA/UPG
Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, backs the idea of providing Ukraine with long-range missiles for self-defense despite German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's differing stance.
DW reports this.
"I have always said that they [long-range missiles – ed.] play an important role, especially for overcoming the mine belt in the east of Ukraine," she said on the air of the ARD TV channel.
When questioned about the potential of providing Kyiv with different types of weapons from Germany, she mentioned that she had already clearly stated her viewpoint on the matter. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz holds a different stance.
"And in the coalition – in the democratic coalition, if the partners cannot agree on one point, we cannot support it [the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine – ed.]. Then the Americans, the British, and the French do it," Baerbock said.
The head of the German Foreign Ministry once again expressed her support for the continuation of Germany's military aid to Ukraine.
According to her, this support is especially important given the possibility of the country's former president, Donald Trump, returning to the US White House after the elections.
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It should be noted that on May 27 of last year, Ukraine addressed Germany with an official request, in which it asked to provide it with Taurus long-range cruise missiles.
In November, the manufacturing company MBDA, which owns Taurus Systems, stated that it is able to increase the production of Taurus missiles in the shortest possible time and randomly integrate new technical achievements into them.
Scholz still stands firm on the idea that Germany cannot permit Ukraine to independently program Taurus missiles and refuses to send its soldiers to carry out these tasks due to the potential for "escalation."
At the same time, the German government intends to allocate an additional €400 million for military support to Ukraine this year.
Taurus is an aviation subsonic cruise missile designed for high-precision hitting of targets.
The Taurus missile, from Germany, is similar in design to Britain's Storm Shadow missiles, currently in use by the Ukrainian military. Designed to be launched from a fighter jet, the Taurus cruise missile can transport a 400-kilogram warhead up to a distance of 500 kilometers. It is renowned for its effectiveness in targeting protected structures like command bunkers and ammunition depots.
In the early 2000s, Germany ordered 600 Taurus missiles for its air force. However, as reported by German media, the Bundeswehr currently has only 150 combat-ready Taurus missiles.
Taurus cruise missiles, together with the Franco-British Storm Shadow, which Ukraine already uses, will allow striking Russian military infrastructure in the occupied territory at long distances.
